Bishoftu is located in the state of Oromia, Ethiopia, approximately 47 km south east of Addis Ababa. Its topography is undulating and characterized by flat land on the north and east parts of the city, locked by several lakes, while the south is dominated by hills (BCP, 2015). The geographical area of the city is about 15,273 ha, and it lies at an altitude in the range of 1900 m. to 1995 m. The number of Open Defecation is very low (1%). Nevertheless, none of the city’s excreta is delivered to a treatment plant. Therefore, only 14% of the city’s excreta is safely managed, whilst 86% is unsafely managed.
Scenic
The best way to appreciate this scenic body of water is from the crater rim at one of the hotels, drink in hand. The view is sensational. According to local lore, this, the second-deepest lake in Ethiopia, is home to a sleeping devil. From time to time his evil gases kill the fish and send them bobbing to the surface to be scooped up by delighted waterbirds.
Lake Bishoftu is the second deepest lake in Ethiopia after Lake Shala. it is also a fun place to visit. Lake Hora is the biggest lake in Debre Zeyit, it is situated near a wildlife refuge and you will also get to see a view of the hillsides surrounding the lake, several tropical birds and parrots can also be spotted here. All these lakes are in close proximity to each other, which makes it easier to visit them all at once.
The Lake
In Bishoftu, the wet season is mostly cloudy, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is warm year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 54°F to 80°F and is rarely below 49°F or above 85°F. Based on the tourism score, the best time of year to visit Bishoftu for warm-weather activities is from mid-September to early March.
As it is free of Bilharzia (schistosomiasis), unlike all other freshwater lakes in Ethiopia, Lake Langano is popular with tourists and city-dwellers. The lake is brown in colour and at first sight one may think that the lake is not clean. However this is not the case, the reason for the colour is due to the richness of minerals including high sulphur levels which have led many to believe that the lake water has healing properties.
Resorts
There are a number of resorts around the lake and water sports are popular. There is a variety of wildlife around the lake, which include hippos (rare), monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and a huge variety of birds. The area around the lake is largely deforested, however, and a large number of herders live around the area.
There are a number of resorts around the lake and water sports are popular. There is a variety of wildlife around the lake, which include hippos (rare), monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and a huge variety of birds. The area around the lake is largely deforested, however, and a large number of herders live around the area.
